Portugal to face Bosnia in Euro 2012 play-offs
Portugal to face Bosnia in Euro 2012 play-offs
UEFA conducted the play-offs draw for the European Championships on Thursday.

Krakow, Poland: Portugal must beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach the 2012 European Championships after UEFA conducted the play-offs draw on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates will travel to Bosnia for the first leg next month in what is a re-match of the countries' 2010 World Cup play-off, which Portugal won 2-0.

Ireland were drawn to play away first against Estonia, who have never reached the finals of a major tournament.

Euros debutant Montenegro will host the second leg against the Czech Republic, while Turkey, a Euro 2008 semi-finalist, face Croatia first in Istanbul.

First-leg matches will be played on November 11 or 12. Return games are scheduled for November 15.

Winners will complete the 16-nation line-up at the June 8-July 1 tournament, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine in eight cities.

Bosnia advanced to the Euro 2012 play-offs despite almost being kicked out of the tournament while suspended by FIFA and UEFA for two months last season over political issues.

Ireland return to a major play-off two years after a controversial World Cup defeat by France, and drew the lowest-ranked unseeded opponent.

Estonia are 37th in UEFA's 53-nation European standings and advanced to the play-offs despite losing 2-0 against the Faroe Islands in qualifying.

Montenegro are playing in their first European Championships after being recognized as world football's newest nation in 2007.

Turkey were unseeded in the draw despite a memorable run at Euro 2008, and are coached by Dutch great Guus Hiddink, who led Russia to the 2008 semi-finals.

The finals tournament draw is made on December 2 in Kiev.

Poland and Ukraine are given automatic top-seeding in their four-team groups, and defending champions Spain and the Netherlands also have No. 1 status.

Germany, Italy, England and Russia will be the No. 2 seeds.

Greece, the 2004 champions, Sweden, and Denmark are likely No. 3 seeds.

France, the 2000 winners, will be fourth-seeded unless the play-offs produce a series of upset victories.

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